The Art of Original Thinking: The Making of a Thought Leader

by Jan Phillips and Jan Phillips

Book Overview

Socially, economically, politically, and technologically our world is evolving in ways we could scarcely imagine even a few years ago. Now, more than ever, we need to close the gap between our... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977421309
• ISBN13: 9780977421305
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: 9th Element Press
• Length: 225 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A Recommended Book

It's obvious that we live in a world with many serious problems. Poverty stalks the globe. Children are dying of preventable illnesses. Wars are killing and maiming civilians. Yes, there are problems, we acknowledge, but they're going to have to be up to someone else to solve--not us. The "experts" will find a way. We have enough problems of our own. We've been socialized to be sheep, to be patient when bureaucracy is slow. Jan Phillips writes, "Thought leaders do not wait in silence. Nor do they wait for others' minds to be opened, or for safe places to speak into. Thought leaders are the openers of minds, the modern day prophets...." The paradigm we grew up with says it's every man for himself. Do the best you can, donate a little money once in a while to ease your conscience, and believe for the best. But as Phillips says, "We are here to advance life...to be...a perpetrator of inspiration, a leader of thought and heartfelt action....This is the time, and we are the ones." The book is filled with stories of people who made a difference, of companies that broke the mold of ordinary thinking, that found new visions for themselves and their world. Of companies who found that "doing [good] unto the least of these" not only feels right, but can be profitable at the same time. Ms. Phillips believes in telling stories, because stories reach through and around our barriers--stories can move our hearts. One example: "Half of us do not have access to clean water. Five thousand children die every day from waterborne illnesses. That's equivalent to twelve full jumbo jets crashing every day. How can it be that we have a dozen jets crashing every day and we're not doing anything about it? How does it happen that we let five thousand of our children die when we have everything it takes--but human will--to fix the problem?" Thought-provoking quotes are scattered throughout the book: -Frederick Buechner: "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." -Martin Luther King, Jr.: "True compassion is more that flinging a coin to a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring." -Max De Pree: "The measure of leadership is not the quality of the head, but the tone of the body." -Miguel de Cervantes: "When we dream alone it is just a dream, but when we dream together it is the beginning of reality." When multiplied millions live on under a dollar a day, and the CEO of Yahoo! manages on only $4 million a week, something is wrong. When the current CEO-worker pay gap is 458 to 1, something is wrong. Thought leaders look at the health of humanity and search for ways to better the world. The author says, "Thought leaders inspire change--personal change, social change, cellular and systemic change. They are not redirecting traffic on the old thoroughfares, but building superhighways of communication that transport people to destinations of heightened awareness, broadened

The Art of Original Thinking: The Making of a Thought Leader

The Art of Original Thinking ushers in a new type of business person. This newest evolution of entrepreneur looks not only to make money but also seeks to create ideas, products, and businesses that will make the world a better place. This leader looks within at his or her talents to fulfill his or her passion and asks the same of his or her employees. This individual sees him or her self as a catalyst for positive change and a model for expressing personal authenticity and passion. The Art of Original Thinking looks at this developing combination of spirituality and business for a better world that has been expressed in books like Megatrends 2010. The Art of Original Thinking not only illustrates various entrepreneurs and businesses following these models but also includes questions that the reader can ask him or her self to trigger more original passionate thinking.

Leadership They Are Not Teaching in Business School

Now you'll be able to argue with the best of them that the old ways of doing business are on their way out. This book is not pie-in-the-sky theories of how businesses should be more responsible, it's real world examples of how businesses can do good by doing good. I found this book inspirational, educational, and captivating. The first thing I did was take it to my business school to see if they could incorporate it into their program. Things don't have to be the way they are in business. There is a better way and Jan Phillips shows it to you.

Our world needs this kind of original thinking!

At a time in history when we seem to be more about the now and about ourselves, Ms. Phillips challenges us to consider a longer term view of how we impact our world and the people around us. For far too long the world corporate mantra has been: profits, shareholder equity, and great wealth for a small select group of people. The effect has impacted our environment. our society, and the lives of many. A philosophy based in elevating humanity and the environment to equality with profits so that the acts of corporations care for both people and planet is good for all. I think everyone should read this book. Not only thought leaders, but also thought influencers, which we all are. Kudos to Ms. Phillips for clearly defining a paradigm that should become the mantra for the new millennium.

At Last, Thought Leadership defined!

A white paper does not a thought leader make. Now, with The Art of Original Thinking: The Making of A Thought Leader, Jan Phillips has defined what true thought leadership is. Ever thought about exactly where YOUR thoughts originated? Family, friends, media to name a few. Phillips tells us that thought leaders are original thinkers - and in order to become an original thinker we have to be willing to engage in a three step process: 1. Release the Past, 2. Embrace the Present, and 3. Create the Future. This is a groundbreaking book - information you won't find anywhere else about companies who are doing well while doing good - and NOT just the usual Starbucks, Whole Foods, Body Shop...how about a carpet manufacturer? How about Capital ONE? Add this to your business classics list.